More Than a Moment

Fourteen

"I'll see you soon," Magnolia said to Luke as she left his room. They'd been talking for what felt like forever, and it was really nice. 

"See ya, Lia," Luke smiled. He mentally slapped himself. There he goes again with the shortened name. He didn't know if he should say something, and Magnolia could tell by the blush on Luke's face that he was embarrassed. 

"It's okay. I like it," she smiled back. "No one has ever called me that.

"Really? Just kinda seems like a reasonable route," Luke squinted his face in disbelief. It made him feel special.

"That's what I thought the first time you called me that, but before then I'd never even considered it," she explained.

"Huh, well have a good night." Luke bid. He got up and hugged her. That seemed appropriate considering their most recent conversation. 

"You too," Magnolia smiled bashfully.

On Magnolia's way to the door, she noticed Michael and Calum were still out in the living room, so she said goodbye.

"Leaving so soon? We were just starting to have a good time together," Michael joked.

Magnolia rolled her eyes and smiled. "Another time, and if I bail that time, I'll fill up your car."

"Now that is a generous offer I will not forget," Michael responded, smiling as well. 

"I'm actually gonna head out too," Calum said, getting up from his place on the couch.

"Am I just not good enough? Tell me what's wrong with me, and I'll fix it!" Michael plead jokingly.

"There's not enough time for that," Calum simply answered.

Michael immediately threw a pillow at him. "Get out."

With that, Calum and Magnolia left the apartment together. They walked side-by-side through the hallway and, considering it was empty, stood closer than they needed to in the elevator.

"Have a nice time with Luke?" Calum asked, unsure of what to say. Everything felt natural with Magnolia earlier, but it being just the two of them for these few seconds reminded Calum of every awkward elevator scene in a movie he has ever seen. 

"Yeah," Magnolia answered simply, quickly looking up at Calum. He was looking straight ahead.

"That's good," he replied. This elevator is taking forever. He pushed the button, right? The doors dinged open, and Magnolia lead the way out of the elevator and out of the building. 

She was walking toward her car when Calum suddenly spoke up. "Listen, I'm gonna go out with some friends. Would you want to come?"

Magnolia was surprised but flattered by the invitation. "Why not?"

"Sweet. You can ride with me if you want." Calum was surprised by his own excitement. This should be fun, hopefully. He was only parked three cars down from Magnolia, and she hopped into the passenger seat. 

They pulled up to a club where, Magnolia assumed, Calum is a frequent goer. She looked down and realized she isn't especially dressed for this sort of thing-- especially not if she was going to be hanging with a more elite crowd. At least her clothes are dark like the venue so it won't be as easy to tell that she's wearing jeans and a cotton v-neck. 

"Ready?" Calum asked as they left their car with the valet. Magnolia just smiled as he lead her with his hand on her back. 

This isn't really something Magnolia would choose to do, but Calum seems excited, so she will be too. She followed him to a table where a group of four or five people greeted him with cheers. 

"Everyone, this is Magnolia. Magnolia, this is everyone," Calum introduced poorly. Magnolia put on her best smile and greeted everyone. They all cheesed back with 'hellos' and pulled her and Calum in. 

Magnolia was immediately engrossed in a conversation with a girl named Gretchen, and Calum looked over to see if she was having a good time. Watching her talk and smile with Gretchen made him happy, and he returned to talking with his friends. 

"So how do you know Cal?" Gretchen asked, leaning in a giggling. 

"We work together," Magnolia answered simply, getting a kick out of how easily amused Gretchen seems. 

"Is it hard to concentrate when you're around him? Like is it hard to be professional?" She asked, looking over at Calum with a longing stare before quickly returning her eyes to Magnolia. 

"We're not dating or anything. Just friends," she cleared. It wasn't hard to tell that Gretchen was searching for Calum's availability status. 

Gretchen squinted, not ready to believe it. "Really?" She asked skeptically.

"Really," Magnolia assured. She looked over at Calum, and he was smiling so widely he had crinkles around his eyes. It gave her shivers, and she looked away before anything like that happened again. 

"You're either crazy or... no, that's really the only explanation," Gretchen said, looking at Calum herself. He's so handsome and funny and kissable. 

Magnolia just laughed, not wanting to tell Gretchen about Luke. "So how do you know Calum?" Magnolia asked, changing the topic.

"Mutual friends," Gretchen nodded over at the guys Calum was talking to.

Magnolia nodded as a response, and didn't realize she was staring at Calum, who was two seats down from her, until he flashed a bit smile and waved a bit. Magnolia blushed furiously, whipping her head in the opposite direction.

Gretchen had noticed that ordeal and smirked a bit. "He's a real charmer."

Magnolia had to agree. "Yeah... maybe I'm not crazy. I mean, it would be crazy..." She thought out loud.

"Understandable, though." Gretchen conceded, carelessly watching Calum.

Magnolia just sort of winced at the notion. Though it killed Gretchen to see Calum with anyone else, she hoped he would remember this kind act in the future, if ever a favor needed to be returned. Gretchen's destiny tonight was to bring two souls together. 

"Hey, Calum!" She yelled across the table. Calum looked over with raised eyebrows. "You're gonna bring a friend out and then not talk to her?" 

Magnolia blushed again and looked at Gretchen with wide eyes. Calum smirked a bit and turned in his seat to get up.

"It's really okay, Calum. Honestly." Magnolia tried to shoo him off so he didn't think she was complaining because she wasn't. 

"No, Gretchen's right." He continued to smirk and moved down by Magnolia. Gretchen gave Magnolia a quick wink and moved to another conversation.

"I didn't say anything," Magnolia rambled, flustered with what had just happened. 

"I figured," Calum smirked, again. He's really killing Magnolia, here. 

Magnolia bit her lip and tried to look anywhere but at Calum. What is she doing? She just spent the evening with Luke, the boy who left his girlfriend for her. The boy she very much as feelings in return for.